Combating AIDS is the job of not only the medical community and activists representing key populations. Important role in stopping the HIV epidemics belongs to politicians, governmental officials, as well as other representatives of other social and cultural spheres of life, according to the Association of Legal Entities “Central Asian Association of People Living with HIV”, which joined the #InYourPower initiative.
Director of the Kazakhsky Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of Republic of Kazakhstan (KSCDID) Bauyrzhan Bayserkin mentioned at the press conference devoted to the start of the information campaign «Crucial Role of Communities» devoted to the World AIDS Day that for today mobilization of all communities is of great importance, and political level has to be involved in resolving this issue: «Being implemented in partnership with government, these activities allow to keep HIV-related issues on the political agenda. It allows to eliminate barriers obstructing service provision by communities, to reduce stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV».
Bakhtiyar Artayev, well-known Kazakh boxer, Olympic champion and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador at the press conference was speaking about the outstanding and famous people living with HIV who became world sporting legends. He underlined that everyone has to be the change agent as everything is #InYourPower.
It should be noted that Kazakhstan demonstrates the significant progress in combating HIV epidemics. In the formula of the global 90-90-90 aim, the first 90 is almost achieved: number of people knowing their HIV status in the country is 84% already.
It’s very significant achievement, according to the Association of Legal Entities “Central Asian Association of People Living with HIV”, but remaining percent consists of those who are out-of-sight of the healthcare and social systems, who do not apply to the official institutions in the system of Ministry of health because of the existing barriers. It is about key populations.
“The problems of key populations existing in the country can be resolved only through cooperative efforts of the communities, governmental structures, civil society, and international organizations – all those involved and interested in effective and sustainable response to HIV epidemics”, — the organization mentions.